Exiles: Aaron Falk Mystery #3
by Jane Harper
Another winner from Jane Harper! (8/14/2022)
Jane Harper has done it again with Exiles, the third (and sadly last) book in the Aaron Falk series. In this installment, Falk, a federal agent whose day job is investigating financial crimes, finds himself embroiled in a missing persons case when he travels to South Australia for the christening of his godchild. One year later, when he returns to the same town for the rescheduled christening, he once again becomes involved in trying to figure out exactly what happened to the missing woman, whose body was never found. He also becomes interested in an old hit and run case that was never solved. Could these two cases be linked? Falk puzzles both mysteries out over the course of the book. Like the first two books in the series, Exiles is meticulously plotted, with a large cast of well-developed characters and a strong sense of place (in this case, South Australian wine country). As usual, Harper keeps the reader guessing right up until the very end, and I found the resolution to be both believable and satisfying. This book would appeal to fans of Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad mysteries and anyone who enjoys complex, atmospheric mysteries.
Sisters of the Great War: A Novel
by Suzanne Feldman
Sisters of the Great War (9/6/2021)
Sisters of the Great War is an unflinching look at life on the front lines of WWI for the women who volunteered to serve. The story follows two American sisters: Ruth is a nurse with ambitions to be a doctor, and Elise is a mechanic and ambulance driver. The descriptions of the war were harrowing and seemed well researched and realistic, especially the medical scenes. The romances were less convincing and were tied up too quickly and neatly (and unrealistically) at the end. All in all, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to people who enjoy middle-brow historical war fiction.
Palace of the Drowned
by Christine Mangan
Palace of the Drowned (2/28/2021)
Palace of the Drowned is suspenseful and atmospheric, but its sinister undertones never quite pay off. The best character in this book by far is Venice. The author did a wonderful job describing the city in the off season and then the historic flooding of 1966. The human characters seem less successfully rendered. Neither of the main characters, Frankie and Gilly, are very likable, and I found their actions and their motivations at times inexplicable. For a supposedly strong, independent woman, Frankie easily gives in to her editor at a crucial point late in the book. And Gilly's motivations are never clear to me, even after the plot is fully revealed. Although I enjoyed the book while I was reading it, I was ultimately disappointed when I got to the end.
The Narrowboat Summer
by Anne Youngson
The Narrowboat Summer (11/12/2020)
The Narrowboat Summer by Anne Youngson is a gentle, peaceful exploration of the possibilities of momentous change in lives that seem completely settled. The three main characters, two middle aged (Sally and Eve) and one elderly (Anastasia), find their lives turned upside down by various circumstances (a failed marriage, job loss, and a medical crisis). A chance encounter brings these three strangers together, and before they know it, Sally and Eve have agreed to drive Anastasia's narrowboat hundreds of miles to a boatyard in Chester so that Anastasia can remain in the London area for medical treatment. Despite having no experience with narrowboats or canals, Sally and Eve discover that canal life suits them. The slow pace of the journey allows them to reflect on their lives—where they've been and, more importantly, where they want to go from there. The main characters are well developed, and the friendships that form during the journey are deep and abiding. I especially appreciated the largely drama-free interactions between Sally and Eve as they thoughtfully navigated their new friendship—it was a refreshing change from the stereotypical rivalry-type female relationships that are often depicted in novels. But my favorite character in the book is the canals themselves—the lyrical descriptions of canal life made me long for my own narrowboat summer. This novel would appeal to those who enjoy books by Helen Simonson, Phaedra Patrick, Rachel Joyce, and Fredrik Backman, as well as anyone who yearns to make a change in their seemingly settled lives.
The Lost Apothecary: A Novel
by Sarah Penner
The Lost Apothecary (8/29/2020)
I enjoyed the historical plot line of this book very much and would give that part of the book five stars. I found Nella and Eliza to be fascinating, well written characters, and their story line was compelling. The author did a great job invoking late 18th-century London and the apothecary trade. But the modern-day plot line just didn't work for me. I didn't warm to Caroline, and much of the modern-day plot hinged on unbelievable coincidences and implausible strokes of luck. Overall, the book was a pleasant read but I would have much preferred to spend the entire book with Nella and Eliza.
Miss Austen
by Gill Hornby
Miss Austen (2/12/2020)
As a devoted fan of Jane Austen, I have always considered Cassandra Austen's burning of her sister Jane's letters to be one of the worst literary crimes in history, so I was interested to see how this book would portray Cassandra's personality and her motivation for this act. Overall, I think the author painted a sympathetic portrait of Cassandra and did an excellent job portraying the life of a poor spinster in a time when marriage was considered the only viable option for women. In fact, the author's depiction of the various fates of the female characters is one of the strengths of the book. However, I was disappointed in the author's rationale for Cassandra destroying the letters. The portrayal of Jane Austen as fragile, emotionally unstable, and depressed seemed contrived and did not ring true to me. So although I enjoyed many aspects of the book, I felt that the portrayal of Jane Austen was too extreme, which prevented me from giving this book the highest rating. Kudos to the author, though, for making me like Cassandra, whom I have never been disposed to forgive!
The Lost Man
by Jane Harper
Slow-burning, atmospheric family drama (11/8/2018)
The Lost Man is a fantastic family drama/mystery that explores the consequences of both taking action and failing to do so. In the aftermath of the seeming suicide of Cameron Bright in a desolate part of the Outback, his family must come to terms with his death and what may have prompted it. Told from the point of view of Nathan, Cameron's older brother, the story slowly unfolds as Harper interweaves past and present and reveals dark family secrets. The characters and the plot are very well developed, the sense of place is palpable, and the resolution, when it finally comes, is satisfying and believable. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys layered family dramas and slow-burning mysteries. I for one can't wait for the next Jane Harper book!
So Much Life Left Over
by Louis de Bernieres
So much life left over (7/21/2018)
So Much Life Left Over is set in the years between the end of WWI and the beginning of WWII and examines the lives of characters who are struggling to find meaning in a post-war world that many of them did not expect to live to see. The novel is written as a series of short vignettes from many points of view. Because of this, and because I did not know that this novel is the sequel to a previously published novel about the same characters (The Dust That Falls From Dreams), it took about half the book for me to really get to know the main characters and decide which ones I sympathized with and which ones I didn't. De Bernieres is a fantastic writer and effectively evokes the time period, and I did enjoy the book once I understood who all the characters were. I just felt as I was reading that I was missing part of the story, and it turns out I was! So I recommend reading the first book first and then reading this one. And then keep in mind at the end that there will be a third book that continues the story.
Force of Nature: Aaron Falk Mystery #2
by Jane Harper
Harper Is a Force to Be Reckoned With (10/7/2017)
Force of Nature is Jane Harper's second mystery featuring Federal Agent Aaron Falk and it's just as good, if not better, than her first book, The Dry. Once again, Harper has penned a layered and suspenseful tale with complex and believable characters. The story involves the disappearance of Alice Russell while she is on a team-building retreat in the Australian bush with four female colleagues. The women become lost in the bush and then Alice goes missing. The four other women make it out of the bush but they all claim not to know what happened to Alice. Falk becomes involved because Alice is an informant in an ongoing case. The story switches between the current search for Alice and flashbacks of what happened to the five women in the bush. The flashbacks have a Lord of the Flies quality, as the frightened women turn on each other as their situation becomes more desperate. Harper's descriptions of the bush are vivid and downright terrifying, as the vegetation becomes more dense and the trees close in on the lost hikers. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next book in the series. This book would appeal to fans of Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad books and anyone who enjoys complex, atmospheric mysteries.
The Essex Serpent
by Sarah Perry
Highly recommended (2/17/2017)
The Essex Serpent is a beautifully written novel that explores such themes as love and friendship, science and religion, reason and superstition, freedom and powerlessness, and poverty and wealth, set against the divergent backdrops of bustling London and rural Essex in the late 1800s.
Sarah Perry skillfully brings to life a cast of late Victorian characters that are far from the buttoned-up prudes one might expect, endowing them with complicated interior and exterior lives. They seem both of their time and timeless, and the complex relationships among the characters are presented with both depth and compassion. The many forms of love and friendship are deftly explored and even though the desires of many of the characters are mutually exclusive, somehow the novel leaves one feeling optimistic.
This book would be a great choice for book clubs and would appeal to fans of Tracy Chevalier and Charles Dickens.
The Last Confession of Thomas Hawkins
by Antonia Hodgson
The Last Confession of Thomas Hawkins (12/20/2015)
The Last Confession of Thomas Hawkins is a worthy sequel to The Devil in the Marshalsea, the first book in this wonderful Georgian mystery series. The book opens with Tom condemned to hang for a murder he did not commit and hoping for a royal pardon. Over the course of the book, the reader learns how Tom got into this predicament. A lovable rake with a good heart, Tom just can't seem to stay out of trouble. Despite all the lessons he learned while incarcerated in the Marshalsea prison months before, he craves excitement and can't be content running a disreputable print shop with his love, Kitty Sparks. Before he knows what's happened, he becomes involved with a notorious criminal and Queen Caroline, and he's unsure which one is more dangerous.
As in the first book, Hodgson immerses the reader in 18th-century London, from royal residences to the seedy underbelly of the city. Her characters are finely drawn and well developed, and the plot has enough twists and turns to keep any mystery reader guessing. I eagerly await the next book in this highly entertaining series!
This book would appeal to readers who enjoy historical fiction/mysteries.
We That Are Left
by Clare Clark
Began well but fizzled out (7/2/2015)
We That Are Left is a complex tale of a family, their crumbling estate, and a godson who becomes inextricably entwined with both. It is clearly well researched and well written, and the writer did a good job of conveying time and place (England around the time of World War I). However, the story line became somewhat tedious towards the end, and the ending was less than satisfying. It seemed more like the season finale of a continuing drama than an ending. I would give the first half of the book 4 stars but the last half only 2 stars.
Little Black Lies
by Sharon Bolton
Compelling psychological thriller--highly recommended (4/30/2015)
Little Black Lies is the best kind of thriller, the kind that grabs the reader early on and doesn't let go until the very end. I literally did not want to put this book down. The plotting is intricate and brilliant, the characters are well developed and believable, and the setting is beautifully described as well as integral to the plot. The book offers an emotionally wrenching portrait of profound grief as well as profound guilt caused by one thoughtless act that destroys lives and friendships, and it poses questions about what such damaged people might be capable of. The book kept me guessing until the very end, and the final resolution was believable and satisfying. This book would appeal to anyone who enjoys a good mystery or thriller, particularly fans of Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad books and Peter May's Lewis Trilogy.
Her Name Is Rose
by Christine Breen
Enjoyable novel but too many coincidences (2/5/2015)
"Her Name Is Rose" is an engaging novel with a cast of interesting characters. The author writes very well; her descriptions of flowers and gardening are particularly lovely, as are her descriptions of the Irish countryside. And I found the main character, Iris, to be very appealing. But I felt that the novel never quite reached its full potential. The plot relies much too heavily on coincidence, and the various plotlines are resolved too neatly at the end. Still, it is an enjoyable read if the reader suspends disbelief and embraces coincidence as a plot device. If I could give half stars, I would rate this book as a 3.5 rather than a 3.
First Frost
by Sarah Addison Allen
Spellbinding sequel (11/3/2014)
Sarah Addison Allen is back with a charming sequel to her best-selling novel Garden Spells. Once again, she casts a spell over her readers with her seemingly effortless, graceful prose, making us happily suspend our disbelief and enter wholeheartedly into the world of the Waverleys, where each woman in the family has a special gift. What I love about Addison Allen's writing is that she employs magical realism with such a light touch that I always feel that her characters and their gifts could be real. This is a perfect book to read while curled up in front of a fireplace with a cup of tea on a lazy Sunday afternoon. This book would appeal to readers who enjoy gentle magical realism, fairy tales, and stories with small-town Southern charm, as well as all those who loved Garden Spells.
Bitter Greens
by Kate Forsyth
Lush retelling of a familiar fairy tale (8/24/2014)
Bitter Greens is a beautifully written retelling of the Rapunzel story, as well as the story of Charlotte-Rose de la Force, the 17th-century French writer who wrote the version of Rapunzel that the Brothers Grimm popularized. The novel is told from the points of view of 3 strong female characters--Charlotte-Rose, Margherita (the Rapunzel character), and the witch--and one of the strengths of the book is the complex portrayal of each of these characters. The writing is lush and evocative and manages to convincingly intertwine historical detail and elements of fantasy. This book would appeal to readers who enjoy historical fiction and/or fairy tales/folklore, particularly those looking for complex retellings for an adult audience.
The Devil in the Marshalsea
by Antonia Hodgson
The Devil in the Marshalsea (3/16/2014)
The Devil in the Marshalsea is a well-written and thoroughly entertaining tale of murder and mayhem in the infamous Marshalsea prison in the early 18th century. Tom Hawkins, a charming rogue whose debts have finally caught up with him, enters the Marshalsea and quickly realizes that his only hope of gaining his freedom is to solve a recent murder at the prison. But the Marshalsea is a dangerous place and any number of its inmates could be murderers.
Peopled with a fascinating cast of characters, The Devil in the Marshalsea is a fast-paced narrative with enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. The novel is also imbued with a strong sense of place--Hodgson's gritty descriptions of day-to-day life in the Marshalsea are intriguing and disturbing and are clearly the product of thorough research. And Tom is an appealing protagonist, a good man who has difficulty rising above his baser instincts. Is it too much to hope that The Devil in the Marshalsea is just the first novel in a planned series?
This book would appeal to readers who enjoy historical fiction/mysteries.
Bellman & Black
by Diane Setterfield
Well written but ultimately disappointing (9/16/2013)
There is no denying that Diane Setterfield is a good writer. Her prose is eloquent and atmospheric, and she does a good job in Bellman & Black of bringing Victorian England to life. Unfortunately, I found the characters to be largely flat and uninteresting, and the entire plot hinged on a childhood event that seemed too inconsequential to bear the weight of future events. The first part of the book held my interest but then the plot flagged and my interest along with it. In addition, I thought the ending was abrupt and unsatisfying. I expected that there would be more to the childhood story on which the plot hinged and that the revelation of the additional details would explain the plot satisfactorily, but unfortunately no further details were forthcoming. I can't say that I would recommend this book to anyone.
Letters from Skye
by Jessica Brockmole
A gem of a novel (6/18/2013)
Letters From Skye is a beautifully written gem of a novel. Written entirely as letters spanning 1912 to 1940, it tells the story of Elspeth Dunn, a Scottish poet, and David Graham, an American college student. What begins as a fan letter from David to Elspeth deepens to friendship and eventually love. One of the great strengths of the novel is the honesty and authenticity of the letters, which are sometimes witty and playful, sometimes passionate, sometimes poignant, but always deeply affecting. Brockmore has managed to create two distinct voices that are utterly believable and to convey depth of character and feeling, as well as a wealth of historical detail, through the medium of letters alone. In this age of ephemeral e-mail and texts, Letters From Skye will make the reader nostalgic for handwritten love letters that can be tied up with ribbon and cherished forever. This book would appeal to those who liked The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, as well as those who have a soft spot for 84 Charing Cross Road.
Eighty Days: Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland's History-Making Race Around the World
by Matthew Goodman
Nonfiction that reads like fiction (1/14/2013)
Eighty Days is a hugely entertaining account of a now-forgotten race around the world in 1889 between Nellie Bly and Elisabeth Bisland, two young female journalists in New York. Goodman recounts Bly's and Bisland's journeys in alternating chapters, and he does a good job building and maintaining suspense around who ultimately won the race. The book is meticulously researched and offers a fascinating glimpse not only into the lives and personalities of these two women but also into everyday life in the late Victorian era. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys travelogues or is interested in the late nineteenth century, as well as those who like adventure novels. This is nonfiction that really does read like fiction!
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